Stephen Curry was casually going through his pregame shooting routine last Tuesday when one of the Utah Jazz dancers almost took him out while she practiced a spinning high kick.

The Warriors' point guard laughed it off, playfully looking for an official to call a foul. But the incident offered a reminder of what he expects to see all season long.

Curry became the focus of every opponent's defensive game plan last season as he piled up a record-breaking three-point total and then flashed brilliance in the playoffs. In an effort to stop him in the postseason, opponents got extra physical with him.

"I'm sure that'll be a pretty common theme throughout the course of the season," he said. "That was a good experience in the playoffs, because I had to deal with contact, and I didn't shy away from it."

Curry still has a slight frame by NBA standards at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, but he entered this training camp prepared to handle the potential bruising better than ever. Since he didn't have to rehab from an ankle surgery during the offseason for the first time since his rookie summer, Curry was able to start his weight and conditioning program 1 1/2 months earlier than usual.

There's an obvious difference in his shoulders and arms, which he says will help him finish through contact in the paint. He's more confident in his ankles as well, which allows him to once again attack the rim without hesitation.

He seems to have developed a counter to everything opponents try. When they blitz his shooting hand, he slides to the side and lofts a three-pointer. When they lean toward the wings in transition, he darts toward the rim with a purpose.

And when they foul him, he calmly walks to the line and makes free throws. He's made 90.1 percent of his foul shots since entering the league, which ranks third all-time behind Steve Nash and Mark Price.

"I know they're going to blitz the jump shot, but if I have it, I'm still going to take it. If not, I'll read the defense and see what happens," Curry said. "I'm not better at selling calls, but they're more aggressive at closing out, and I'm using that to my advantage."

In the Warriors' second exhibition game, Curry got to the foul line 10 times. He's never averaged more than 3.7 free-throw attempts per game during a season in his career.

In that same game against Sacramento, he also used a shot fake to lose a closing defender and then slid to the side for three-point attempts, lofting seven of them. He had 23 points and six assists in 27 minutes.

"I expect opponents to be very aggressive with him," head coach Mark Jackson said. "When teams are being aggressive and playing with force, he's got to meet force with force. One way to do that is to attack and try to get to the free-throw line."

Another way is to draw all the attention, then get the ball to an open teammate. Curry said he's excited about the possibility of playing "the PG spot the way (he's) always envisioned it," especially with the team's array of offseason additions.

The Warriors now have seven players who have averaged double-figures in points at some time in their careers, including four who did it last season. If Curry is getting double-teamed, then David Lee, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala or Harrison Barnes is likely pouring in the points.

"I think one of the strengths of our team is that we're pretty balanced," Lee said. "Everyone on the floor has proven that they're capable of stepping up and hitting a shot.

"We know that Steph is going to have a little more of a target on his back than he did at the start of last year, and I think he's ready for the challenge. He certainly knows that we're right there with him."